New to the forum – passionate about Frenchie health

Hi there

Beyond the breed itself, some issues apply across the board.

Here’s my experience with two King Charles Spaniels.

A. Common health issues

First off, they’re a brachycephalic breed, so you have to be extremely careful about their genetic lineage and breeding.

For the rest, you'll need other owners to tell you about the day-to-day reality of living with them.

B. Vet costs and follow-ups

I keep a spreadsheet to track my spending. On average, over the last 5 years, I’ve spent around £3,000 per year for each dog.

• They eat at a fair rate besides their dry food (the same as the rest of the family, just two extra portions).

• Medical care depends on their individual needs.

• The vet actually works out as my lowest expense. I only really go when I’ve run out of options. It costs me about £430 a year (just the rabies jab, blood tests, and the odd consultation). I find these extortionate prices scandalous, and we're just the mugs expected to pay up. Not for me. I’ve changed the way I do things.

• I handle the first aid, grooming, etc., myself. I’ve kitted myself out to stay independent (electric grooming table, stethoscopes, dental tools, a microscope...). It cost me about £350, thank God for Amazon! 😇

• Medication: rare for now. But for ear care, I use things like floral waters. Same for eyes and disinfectants. Aloe vera gel for the paw pads. Stop pouring money down the drain for these overpriced meds that only give you 8 drops. 💧

C. Insurance

• Most policies are much of a muchness—it’s mostly marketing fluff designed to fleece you of your cash.

• It’s the terms and conditions you need to read. Start by identifying the exclusions for your specific breed. Then look for excluded conditions or types of claims. There’s a whole list of them...

• The reimbursement rate rarely goes above 80%.

• Usually, you’ll always have an excess of about £85 to £130 to pay yourself.

📌 So, I just went with a basic, cheap policy from a standard pet insurer. It’s still insurance, and they’ll always find an excuse to say something isn't covered. It took me 6 months to compare different plans. If you really want to take one out, make a list of requirements (what I want / what I don't want).

There you go! 🙂